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Friday, October 11, 2013

The Ugliness of Jealousy and Envy

The Ugliness of Jealousy and Envy

Galatians 5:24-26

And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

A great deal of good can be done in the world if one is not too careful who gets the credit.

On their way home from a lifetime of service as missionaries in Africa, an elderly couple found themselves on the same ocean liner as President Teddy Roosevelt, who was returning from a big game hunting or known as Safari expedition. The couple watched in wonder at the fanfare given the President and his supporters. When the ship docked in New York, a band was waiting to greet him, the mayor was there to welcome him, and the newspapers announced his return.

Meanwhile, the missionary couple disembarked quietly off the ship and checked-in in a cheap apartment. They had no pension, they were in poor health, and they were discouraged and fearful. The husband, especially, could not seem to get over how the President had received such praise, while their decades of service had gone without notice or reward. In plain words, he was envious. "God isn't treating us fairly," he complained bitterly to his wife. "Why don't you pray about it?" his wife advised. A short time later, the wife noticed a change in her husband's behavior. "What happened?" she asked. The man replied, "The Lord put His hand on my shoulder and simply said, 'But you're not home, yet!"

Author Unknown

Have you ever thought, “I did all the work, and they got all the credit?” Were you needing the praise of men? For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God (John 12:43).The world loves the praise of men and they feel they get their credibility from being honored by men. Not so for Christians. We receive our “credibility” from the Lord. We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works (Ephesians 2:10).

What is the difference between jealousy and envy?

The main difference between envy and jealousy is that envy is an emotion related to coveting what someone else has, while jealousy is the emotion related to fear that something you have will be taken away by someone else.

Envy means "to bear a grudge toward someone due to coveting what that person has or enjoys." In a milder sense, it means "the longing for something someone else has without any ill will intended toward that person."

Jealous means "apprehensive or vengeful out of fear of being replaced by someone else." It can also mean "watchful," "anxiously suspicious," "zealous," or "expecting complete devotion." The last is normally applied to God.

Easy way to remember:

Envy is the emotion when you want something someone else has.

Jealousy is the emotion when you fear you may be replaced in the affection of someone you love or desire.

Although we sometimes use the words jealousy and envy interchangeably, there is a difference. Jealousy can be used in a good sense. Its root is zelos, the same word from which we also get zeal, or zealous. When the word is applied to God, saying He is a jealous God means He demands that we worship and love Him exclusively.

In a bad sense, jealousy is a fear of being displaced by a rival in affection or favor. To be jealous is to be anxiously suspicious or vigilant. Proverb 27:4 implies that jealousy is hidden. It corrupts our motives, thoughts, and actions. It can be one of the most uncontrollable sins.

While jealousy can be positive in one sense , envy, on the other hand, always has a bad meaning. Envy is defined as "a feeling of discontent and resentment aroused by another's desirable possessions or qualities, accompanied by a strong desire to have them for oneself." Scripture reminds us, "A sound (tranquil) heart is the life of the flesh (body): but envy the rottenness of the bones” (Prov. 14:30).

Thought: Jealousy and envy are emotions we all feel from time to time. But if they are allowed to become dominant in our lives, they warp our perspectives, and in some cases, lead us into destructive behavior. Without question, jealousy and envy impede our growth to spiritual maturity. I Corinthians 13:4-8a says that Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it his not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends or fails.

Our example, the Lord Jesus Christ, who humbled Himself and made Himself of no reputation, nothing, and became obedient to the death of the cross. Our lives are to consider others more significant than ourselves, and we are to do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility, having the mind of Christ. (Philippians 2:3-8)

Colossians 3:24 ~ Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. Our great reward is not the praise of man in this life but knowing that from the Lord we will receive the inheritance, His inheritance, as our reward.